Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bland fantasy sequel has some scary monsters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Wrath of the Titans
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 28 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag; while it offers exciting creature battles and impressive CGI, it suffers from a weak plot and intense violence that may not be suitable for younger viewers. Many find it entertaining and a step up from its predecessor, though some believe it falls short of the originality seen in earlier versions of the franchise.
- violence intensity
- weak plot
- impressive CGI
- entertaining action
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After the events of Clash of the Titans, demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) once again tries to live the life of a simple fisherman with his son, Helius (John Bell). Unfortunately, Zeus (Liam Neeson) arrives to warn Perseus that trouble is coming. Not long after, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), with help from Ares (Edgar Ramirez), cooks up a sinister plan to capture Zeus, drain his power, and resurrect their father, Kronos, who turns out to be a giant, fiery creature. It's up to Perseus, aided by a queen (Rosamund Pike) and a demigod cousin (Toby Kebbell), to find three pieces of a magical weapon, rescue Zeus, and defeat the creature before it's too late.
Is It Any Good?
Unlike the bombastic previous movie, WRATH OF THE TITANS is rather bland, with much less at stake and fewer conflicts between gods and men. The movie is filled with one digital creature after another -- the action and 3-D effects are fairly lazy -- and by the time we get to the big climax, the thrill is gone.
Subsequently, the human characters have perhaps even less personality than the monsters. Their interactions seem to consist mostly of explaining the plot to one another, and there's very little character growth or depth; Perseus' big revelation is that he gains strength from his son (i.e., he would rather protect his son than let him get hurt), which isn't much of a stretch. A kiss at the end of the movie is almost totally gratuitous and feels misplaced. Even the most skilled actors in the cast mainly look like they're struggling to stay awake.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the behavior of gods and humans. Have the gods learned anything since Clash of the Titans? What's the main thing that Perseus learns about being both god and man? Can you connect any of the movie's messages about humankind to real life?
Which of the monsters are the scariest? Are the biggest ones scariest, or are the smaller ones more effective? How does the movie's fantasy nature affect the impact of its violent scenes?
Perseus learns to gain strength from his own son, much as Zeus learned to gain strength from Perseus. What other lessons are passed on between fathers and sons in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 30, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : June 26, 2012
- Cast : Liam Neeson , Rosamund Pike , Sam Worthington
- Director : Jonathan Liebesman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of fantasy violence and action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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